Each week, EWC will be gathering horological industry news, cultural conversations and moments surrounding our favorite topic: timepieces. Happy Friday; here’s what’s on our watch. 

The northeastern US is slowly thawing from its few weeks of freezing temperatures, and starting to look forward to spring. It’s a little quieter on the new releases front as brands prep for upcoming shows like Watches & Wonders, but the new drops this week are absolute bangers, and our favorite celebrities are still out there showing us some cool watches. The biggest news this week, though? You guessed it: tariffs. 

The Big News: Tariffs Struck Down by United States Supreme Court

In a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court struck down the global tariffs that have been imposed by the Trump administration. The ruling, authored by Chief Justice Roberts, stated that the president exceeded his authority in imposing tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, a statute that is meant to be used only in emergency situations. "Our task today is to decide only whether the power to "regulate ... importation," as granted to the president in IEEPA, embraces the power to impose tariffs. It does not," Roberts wrote in the ruling. 

The ruling did not address how to handle tariffs that had already been charged to importers while they were imposed, and whether (or how) potential refunds might be handled. After tariffs were lowered on Swiss products late in 2025, Swiss exports to the US rose sharply again, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, but it remains to be seen how the ruling will impact watch imports and prices. 

New releases

Richard Mille introduced the RM 41-01 Tourbillon Soccer, which not only incorporates a new manually-wound calibre with a flyback chronograph and a tourbillon, but brings in two new soccer-specific complications: a mechanical goal counter and a match-phase indication. It comes in two colorways, dark red and dark blue, both incorporating their Thin Ply Technology (or TPT) material on the case. It has a skeletonized grade 5 titanium baseplate and bridges, with a high degree of detailed finishing. It is available in a limited edition of 30 pieces of each colorway.

H. Moser & Cie released its first entirely ceramic timepiece with the Streamliner Tourbillon Concept Ceramic. It has all the design elements of the Streamliner collection, with its distinctive cushion case and integrated bracelet, with alternating satin and polished finishes on the anthracite ceramic case and bracelet that highlight its design details. The dial is a strikingly beautiful textured fumé red Grand Feu enamel, pierced only by the one-minute flying tourbillon at the six o’clock position. It’s powered by the brand’s in-house HMC 805 automatic caliber, which features a double hairspring.

Celebrity watch sightings

The basketball stars and their watches were out during the NBA All-Star weekend. Perpetual calendars were popular, and included LeBron James wearing a ruby-adorned Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Skeleton, Luka Dončić in a black ceramic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked, and Kyrie Irving in an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in blue ceramic.

Actor Keegan-Michael Key was seen in a Saxonia Moonphase from A. Lange & Söhne, and rapper Busta Rhymes wore a Richard Mille RM 055 ‘Bubba Watson’ in white ceramic.  

King Charles III was spotted wearing an early Toric Chronograph watch by Parmigiani Fleurier while attending British-Nigerian Designer Tolu Coker's show at the start of London Fashion Week. The King has been seen in this 39mm automatic watch on multiple occasions, including the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Bulgari announced that Dua Lipa is the brand’s latest global brand ambassador. “It is incredibly special to work alongside an iconic brand like Bulgari, and I’m thrilled to be part of a house that embodies confidence, creativity and modern femininity,” Lipa says in a statement. “Their pieces always add the perfect finishing touch, transforming a look into a real moment.”

Watch industry happenings

Morgan Stanley, in conjunction with Luxe Consult, issued its detailed report with an analysis of the 2025 watch market. The report, as it has in past years, ranks the top 50 watch brands by unit sales and turnover, with some of the numbers based on educated estimates. Unsurprisingly to many, Rolex retains the top spot in turnover, but Omega dropped from 3rd place in 2024 to 5th place in 2025, after being overtaken by Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. Another highlight was that Jacob & Co. recorded sales of $180 million USD, representing 14% growth year-over-year from 2024. 

Though no official public statements have been issued, rumors have been circulating about the possibility of a management buyout of Jaeger-LeCoultre from Richemont Group. On the figurative heels of the group’s sale of Baume et Mercier to Damiani Group, the rumors continue to proliferate, and it will be interesting to see what shakes out in the end.

Timepieces at Luxury & JCK, a new segment of JCK’s annual show in Las Vegas, will feature educational and networking activities in collaboration with several newly announced partners. The partners include the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH), a Geneva-based nonprofit focused on promoting and preserving the culture and heritage of fine watchmaking; RedBar Group, the world’s largest watch enthusiast community; and WatchPro magazine, who will host its annual Hot 100 party, celebrating the top 100 influential figures in the watch industry. In addition, the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) will return to JCK with its Mobile Classroom, providing watchmaking workshops and educational sessions.